Honda Ridgeline Explained

Honda Ridgeline
Manufacturer:Honda
Production:2005[1] – early 2015
Mid 2016 – present
Model Years:2006–2014
2017–present
Assembly:Canada: Alliston, Ontario (HCM) (2004–2009)
United States: Lincoln, Alabama (HMA) (2008–2015, 2016–present)
Class:Mid-size pickup truck
Body Style:4-door pickup truck
Layout:Front-engine, four-wheel drive (2006–present)[2] as well as Front-engine, front-wheel drive (2017–2020)

The Honda Ridgeline is a mid-size pickup truck manufactured by Honda. Currently the company's only pickup, it is built using a unibody frame and a transverse-mounted engine. It is offered only in a crew–cab short-box configuration with one powertrain.[3] [4] [5]

First generation (YK1; 2006)

See main article: Honda Ridgeline (first generation). The first-generation Ridgeline went on sale in March 2005 as a 2006 model year vehicle.[6] The Car Design Yearbook called it "Honda's first foray into the true heartland of the American automotive way of life—the pickup truck."[7] An engineering team from Honda R&D Americas, led by Gary Flint, designed the vehicle.[8] [9] According to the author of Driving Honda, the automaker wanted to target buyers who were looking to move to a pickup from sedans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles (SUV).The development started in 2001 with a development mule using an extended version of a first-generation Acura MDX with a competitor's pickup bed integrated into the rear structure.[10] After four years of development, a Sport Utility Truck Concept was shown at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. Later that same year, Honda unveiled a revised version at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show and announced the official name of the vehicle, the Ridgeline.[11] The production version of the Ridgeline was unveiled the following year at the 2005 North American International Auto Show.

Honda's publications claim that the first generation Ridgeline shared only 7% of its components with other Honda vehicles. Its powertrain resembled the one used in the first-generation Acura MDX but was "extensively calibrated and strengthened" for heavier hauling and towing duties.

Production of the first generation Ridgeline ended in early 2015.[12]

Second generation (YK2/3; 2017)

See main article: Honda Ridgeline (second generation).

After a one-year hiatus in Ridgeline production, the second-generation went on sale in June 2016 as a 2017 model year vehicle.[13] The second-generation Ridgeline took a different approach in design from the first generation Ridgeline by sharing Honda's new "global light truck platform,"[14] used for the third-generation Honda Pilot as well as other large Honda vehicles.[15] [16] Honda modified the Pilot platform, including extending the wheelbase and various parts to support hauling, towing, and off-road use.[17] [18] Honda reported that 73% of the second-generation Ridgeline's components remain common with the third-generation Pilot. Major changes included a 17% stronger front structure, a 31% sturdier rear,[19] and 50% of the chassis' components changed or were strengthened for the second generation Ridgeline.[20] The second generation Ridgeline's new structure gives it an average 78lb reduction in weight from the first generation pickup. The C-pillar and rear subframe were strengthened giving the second generation 28% more torsional rigidity over the first generation Ridgeline.[21]

Marketing

The design of the unibody pickup with a transverse-mounted engine and a crew-cab short-box configuration makes the Ridgeline unique.[3] [4] [22] [23] [24] Some in the automotive press that have studied the first generation Ridgeline, such as PickupTrucks.com, consider it "one of those odd vehicles." They wrote, "The Ridgeline can't really do what most people who like trucks need it to do."[25] Others in the automotive press, such as The Driver's Seat TV, had differing views and call the Ridgeline, "the Swiss Army knife of trucks." They also described the Ridgeline "the anti-truck" and summarized their view by stating "the Ridgeline scores high on practicality but very low on image."[26]

Compared to the first-generation Ridgeline, Honda's second-generation Ridgeline has the automotive press changing its tune, yet it still has an image problem. Gearheads.org wrote the "2017 Honda Ridgeline still won’t get respect but should" stating, its "downside is going to be looks."[27] Car and Driver wrote, "The company [Honda] readily admits that the problem with the first generation pickup was that the styling was off-putting, but then it went ahead and made the next iteration of the truck just as unconventional as before."[28] "The Ridgeline’s roomy cabin, ample storage, smooth ride, and innovative touches make its rivals seem outdated. ...it not only has cargo space, but also the makings of a great tailgate party..."[29]

Karl Forster, an SAE trailer towing group member who was vehicle dynamics project leader on Honda's unibody Ridgeline pickup and Pilot SUV described studies of pickup usage and "found out that 84 percent of truck buyers tow 5000 pounds or less."[30]

Production and sales

According to Honda, the Ridgeline was not designed to take sales from the traditional trucks marketed in North America, but was developed to "give the 18% of Honda owners who also own pickups a chance to make their garages a Honda-only parking area."[31] Despite the first generation Ridgeline's poor sales,[32] according to the author of Driving Honda, this mid-size pickup was one of the more profitable vehicles for Honda with reported sales in over 20 countries.[33]

The second generation Ridgeline sales appeared to start strong[34] but comparing sales in the US between 2017 and 2018 shows a 12% decline overall.[35] A 2018 Autoline Daily report stated the Ridgeline is the only mid-size truck in North America whose sales are down in a market that "suggests there’s room for more players."[36]

Calendar
year! colspan="2"
SalesProduction
USACAN
2004199
200542,5933,51260,679
200650,1934,98856,866
200742,7954,51955,150
200833,8753,98725,264
200916,4643,54616,180
201016,1423,20020,180
20119,7591,71313,356
201214,0682,22621,361
201317,7232,12219,557
201413,3891,80310,015
2015520229154
201623,6682,62234,599
201734,7494,63239,282
201830,5924,09446,123
201933,3343,40529,246
202032,1683,36934,055
202141,3553,49141,822
202242,7623,13550,434
202352,001

Awards

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Williams . Evan . Honda Celebrates 30 Years of Canadian Production . 3 November 2016 . Autotrader.ca . 11 March 2023.
  2. Web site: Beresford . Colin . 2021 Honda Ridgeline Gets $350 Price Hike, Drops Front-Wheel Drive . Car and Driver . 20 May 2023 . 14 January 2021.
  3. 2006 Honda Ridgeline Press Kit, Canadian version . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208010905/http://hondanews.ca/Content/hondanews.ca/d6f7e22e-e62f-43de-8221-bf62f2da4aa3/Brochure/2006HondaRidgeline.doc . 2015-12-08 . Honda Canada Finance . 22 March 2005 . 18 January 2018.
  4. 2017 Honda Ridgeline Press Kit . American Honda . 9 May 2016 . 28 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160728064126/http://hondanews.com/releases/d7a2667d-4c87-41a7-8515-44e06ef9edc8/download_all . 18 January 2018.
  5. Web site: 2020-01-17. Honda Ridgeline Prices, Reviews, and Pictures . live . Edmunds.com . 2018-11-15 . 2018-11-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181121023233/https://www.edmunds.com/honda/ridgeline/.
  6. Honda Ridgeline Truck Unveiled at 2005 North American International Auto Show, All-new 4WD Honda truck will debut as 2006 model. https://web.archive.org/web/20170902182348/http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-ridgeline-truck-unveiled-at-2005-north-american-international-auto-show . 2017-09-02 . hondanews.com. January 10, 2005. September 11, 2016.
  7. Book: Newbury, Stephen . The Car Design Yearbook . 4 . 2007 . Merrell Publishers . 9781858942865 . 27 February 2024.
  8. Book: Rothfeder, Jeffrey . Driving Honda: Inside the World's Most Innovative Car Company . https://web.archive.org/web/20160503143751/https://books.google.com/books?id=lhSMAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover . 2016-05-03 . 9780141970769 . August 18, 2018 . 1st published 2014 . 2015.
  9. Web site: Crafting a pickup: Ex-GM engineer designed Ridgeline the Honda way . Autoweek . Richard . Truett . 13 June 2005 . 2 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143013/http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/crafting-pickup-ex-gm-engineer-designed-ridgeline-honda-way . 27 February 2024.
  10. http://discover.honda.com/pdf/HONDA_50thAnniv_Book.pdf 50 Years of American Dreams, The Challenging Spirit (page 151)
  11. Honda Names All-New 4-Door 4WD Truck 'Ridgeline' . Honda Media Newsroom . November 2, 2004 . 20 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180220152124/http://hondanews.com/releases/honda-names-all-new-4-door-4wd-truck-ridgeline . 27 February 2024.
  12. Honda 2023 Digital FactBook . Honda Corporate News . 14 July 2023 . 24 May 2024.
  13. https://hondanews.com/releases/honda-2019-digital-factbook Honda 2019 Digital FactBook
  14. 2017 Honda Ridgeline Press Kit (complete document). https://web.archive.org/web/20160728064126/http://hondanews.com/releases/d7a2667d-4c87-41a7-8515-44e06ef9edc8/download_all . 2016-07-28. American Honda . 9 May 2016. 18 January 2018.
  15. https://www.topspeed.com/cars/honda/2017-2018-honda-ridgeline-ar161577.html 2017-2018 Honda Ridgeline, Honda's pickup for the non-pickup types
  16. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2019-honda-passport-production-begins-alabama/ 2019 Honda Passport already rolling off the assembly line in Alabama
  17. Web site: Great Designs in Steel, The 2017 Honda Ridgeline. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528214747/https://www.autosteel.org/-/media/files/autosteel/great-designs-in-steel/gdis-2017/track-2---2017-honda-ridgeline.ashx . 2018-05-28. autosteel.org. Steve Behm, Principal Underbody Design Engineer, 2017 Honda Ridgeline Body Development Leader, Honda R&D Americas. 17 May 2017. 28 May 2018.
  18. 2017 Honda Ridgeline Review, the cool stuff with Tips & Tricks . https://web.archive.org/web/20170215025000/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNAsXWnFtic . 2017-02-15 . HondaPro Jason (YouTube channel). 10 May 2016 . 9 September 2018.
  19. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15101305/2017-honda-ridgeline-first-drive-review/ 2017 Honda Ridgeline First Drive Review
  20. https://www.torquenews.com/1574/honda-ridgeline-carries-over-2019-2-minor-upgrades Honda Ridgeline Carries Over for 2019 With 2 Minor Upgrades
  21. http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/mid-size-trucks-dont-need-frames-1785674405 Mid-Size Trucks Don't Need Frames
  22. https://www.auto123.com/en/news/honda-ridgeline-pickup-truck-makes-canadian-debut-in-montreal/21776/?folder=industry Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck Makes Canadian Debut in Montreal
  23. https://thenewswheel.com/2017-honda-ridgeline-named-north-american-truck-of-the-year-in-detroit-2/ 2017 Honda Ridgeline Named North American Truck of the Year in Detroit
  24. https://thenewswheel.com/2017-honda-ridgeline-only-pickup-truck-to-achieve-top-safety-pick-rating/ 2017 Honda Ridgeline Only Pickup Truck to Achieve Top Safety Pick+ Rating
  25. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/10/whats-going-on-with-the-honda-ridgeline.html What's Going on With the Honda Ridgeline?
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnAANMak2tA In The Driver's Seat of the 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  27. http://gearheads.org/2017-honda-ridgeline-still-wont-get-respect-but-should/ 2017 Honda Ridgeline Still Won’t Get Respect But Should
  28. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a27273790/2019-ford-ranger-vs-jeep-gladiator-chevrolet-colorado-honda-ridgeline/ 2019 Ford Ranger vs. 2020 Jeep Gladiator vs. 2019 Chevrolet Colorado vs. 2019 Honda Ridgeline
  29. http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/medium-done-well-mid-size-pickups-ranked#10 Medium Done Well: Mid-Size Pickups Ranked-#1 Honda Ridgeline
  30. Web site: 2009-08-29. The Numbers Game: How Truck Makers Determine Towing Capacity - Consumer Feature . Truck Trend . 2020-12-28 . 2017-05-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170502000251/http://www.trucktrend.com/news/163-0910-truck-towing-capacity/ . live.
  31. Web site: Honda re-thinks the pickup: the Ridgeline comes closer to merging the virtues of both cars and pickup trucks than any other vehicle. Honda calls it the first next generation pickup, but will others follow its lead? . https://web.archive.org/web/20150329143723/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-131808717.html . 29 March 2015 . 1 April 2005 . 27 February 2024.
  32. http://www.hondanews.com/releases/honda-2018-digital-factbook Honda 2018 Digital FactBook
  33. https://www.bna.com/honda-appeals-chile-n73014449982/ Honda Appeals After Chile Disqualifies Pickup for Tax Credit
  34. http://www.torquenews.com/1574/2017-honda-ridgeline-sales-show-good-momentum-august 2017 Honda Ridgeline sales show good momentum for August
  35. https://hondanews.com/releases/trucks-drive-new-records-and-acura-turns-a-corner-as-american-honda-posts-december-sales-increase?query=December+2018+sales Trucks Drive New Records and Acura Turns a Corner as American Honda Posts December Sales Increase
  36. http://www.autoline.tv/daily/?p=58598#more-58598 AD #2493 – FCA Retools Engine Plant for Jeeps, Mid-Size Pickup Segment Soars, How the Jeep Gladiator Got Its Name
  37. https://hondanews.com/releases/honda-2017-digital-factbook?query=Digital+Factbook Honda 2017 Digital FactBook
  38. http://www.ajac.ca/web/ccoty/2006/vote_results/pickup.asp Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, 2006 Best New Pick-up
  39. http://www.ajac.ca/web/ccoty/2006/vote_results/overall_truck.asp Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, 2006 Canadian Truck of the Year
  40. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2006-honda-ridgeline-rts-page-6 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTS, First Place: Do-It-All Compact Pickups
  41. http://hondanews.com/honda-automobiles/channels/ridgeline/releases/unique-and-highly-capable-honda-ridgeline-named-to-car-and-driver-magazine-list-of-the-2018-10best-trucks-and-suvs Unique and Highly Capable Honda Ridgeline Named to Car and Driver Magazine List of the 2018 10Best Trucks and SUVs
  42. https://hondanews.com/releases/honda-ridgeline-named-to-car-and-driver-magazine-list-of-the-2019-10best-trucks-and-suvs Honda Ridgeline Named to Car and Driver Magazine List of the 2019 10Best Trucks and SUVs
  43. http://www.hondanews.com/releases/2006-2007-honda-award-list?l=en-US 2006–2007 Honda Award List
  44. https://www.auto123.com/en/news/2017-auto123-awards-winners/63069/ 2017 AUTO123.COM AWARDS: MEET THE WINNERS!
  45. http://hondanews.com/releases/honda-cr-v-and-ridgeline-j-d-power-associates-2017-apeal-award-winners-honda-brand-places-highly-in-apeal-study-rankings Honda CR-V and Ridgeline J.D. Power & Associates “2017 APEAL Award” Winners; Honda Brand Places Highly in APEAL Study Rankings
  46. http://hondanews.com/releases/honda-accord-and-ridgeline-named-as-j-d-power-associates-2018-apeal-award-winners-with-cr-v-and-odyssey-also-highly-ranked?page=1 Honda Accord and Ridgeline Named as J.D. Power & Associates "2018 APEAL Award" Winners with CR-V and Odyssey Also Highly Ranked
  47. http://greencarjournal.com/awards/san-antonio-auto-show-green-car-awards/ San Antonio Auto Show Green Car Awards
  48. http://consumerguide.com/best-buys/2018-honda-ridgeline/ 2018 Honda Ridgeline Best Buy Review
  49. http://consumerguide.com/best-buys/2019-honda-ridgeline/ 2019 Honda Ridgeline Best Buy Review
  50. https://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards/best-resale-top-10-cars/ 2017 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
  51. https://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards/best-resale-top-10-cars/ 2018 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
  52. https://www.kbb.com/new-cars/best-resale-value-awards/best-resale-top-10-cars/ 2019 Best Resale Value Awards: Top Ten Cars
  53. http://hondanews.com/honda-automobiles/channels/ridgeline/releases/2018-honda-ridgeline-named-as-the-car-connection-best-pickup-to-buy 2018 Honda Ridgeline Named as The Car Connection Best Pickup to Buy
  54. http://hondanews.com/honda-automobiles/channels/ridgeline/releases/seven-honda-vehicles-earn-multiple-women-s-choice-awards-7 Seven Honda Vehicles Earn Multiple Women’s Choice Awards
  55. http://www.temp.speautomotive.com/pdfs/Newsletters/jan06_newsletter.pdf 35th-Anniversary Innovation Awards Gala, "License To Thrill"
  56. https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks/2019/large-pickups#award-winners Top Safety Picks, Large pickup (go to "Other years" and select the one you want to view)
  57. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2008/11/honda-ridgeline.html Honda Ridgeline Grabs First-Ever Baja 1000 Win
  58. http://news.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?id=5761-en Honda Ridgeline Wins Again at Baja
  59. http://hondanews.com/releases/honda-ridgeline-baja-race-truck-conquers-baja-1000 Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Conquers Baja 1000
  60. http://hondanews.com/releases/honda-ridgeline-baja-race-truck-takes-class-victory-at-baja-500 Honda Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Takes Class Victory at Baja 500
  61. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2018/06/honda-picks-up-a-2018-baja-500-class-win-with-ridgeline.html Honda Picks Up a 2018 Baja 500 Class Win With Ridgeline
  62. https://hondanews.com/releases/new-ridgeline-baja-race-truck-debuts-with-baja-500-victory?page=1 New Ridgeline Baja Race Truck Debuts With Baja 500 Victory
  63. https://www.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-cars-2019-study The Longest-Lasting Cars to Reach 200,000 Miles and Beyond

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